Your weekly what’s on guide for Bedford and the surrounding area from The Bedford Clanger.
Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford Clanger what’s on guide lands every Thursday and is the only guide you need to know what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 10 days.
Until Saturday 24 June 2023
Shopping: Fiver Fest
Town centre and online
Totally Locally’s Fiver Fest is back in Bedford – once again serving up some great £5 offers and giving us all a great excuse to visit our favourite shops – and discover new ones.
The event is a national celebration of small businesses and shops that make a huge contribution to the economy of the UK and the well-being of our towns and runs from 10 – 24 June.
Businesses taking part in Bedford’s Fiver Fest have all put together special £5 offers to show the diversity and value of what they sell and to give customers an extra excuse to pop in and spend, spend, spend!
Thursday 15 June 2023
Folk Music: That’s All Folk: Yvonne Hercules
The Place Theatre @ 8pm
Tickets: £12
Join Yvonne Hercules for a musical journey through Black Femininity and its nuances referencing alternative folk, alternative soul, jazz and rock genres, as she showcases songs from her EP entitled ‘Olive’.
‘Olive’ is partly inspired by the life & work of feminist activist Olive Morris and is released on 9 June 2023 on Trapped Animal Records.
Yvonne will be joined by her band and will be performing the EP in full alongside interpretations of songs by prominent and unknown minority female artists + support performances from invited special guests. This project is supported by Arts Council England.
Thursday 15 June 2023
NTLive: Fleabag
The Quarry Theatre @ 7pm
Tickets: £15
Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) and directed by Vicky Jones, Fleabag is a rip-roaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life.
Following a box-office record-breaking run in cinemas in 2019, the one-woman show returns to the big screen this summer.
Fleabag may seem oversexed, emotionally unfiltered and self-obsessed, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With family and friendships under strain and a guinea pig café struggling to keep afloat, Fleabag suddenly finds herself with nothing to lose.
The hilarious, award-winning play that inspired the BBC’s hit TV series Fleabag,was filmed live on stage in London’s West End in 2019.
Thursday 15 June 2023
Live music: The Tom Robinson Band + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets:£23
Born in Cambridge in 1950, Tom Robinson first became known in the late 1970s as a musician and LGBT activist with the Tom Robinson Band (TRB) who were early supporters of Rock Against Racism and Amnesty International. In 1977 their Top 5 debut release 2-4-6-8 Motorway became one of the landmark singles of the UK punk era. Other hits included Glad To Be Gay, Up Against The Wall and the band’s debut album Power In The Darkness which went gold in the UK and Japan.
As a solo artist Tom had further solo hits in 1983 with War Baby and Atmospherics: Listen To The Radio, and co-wrote songs with Peter Gabriel, Elton John and Dan Hartman.
As a radio broadcaster, Tom hosts two shows a week on BBC Radio 6 Music. He has won two Sony Radio Academy awards and served as a member of the Ivor Novello Awards committee for 15 years. In 2016 he was awarded a fellowship of LIPA for his support of new music through hosting BBC Music’s Introducing Mixtape podcast and his Fresh On The Net music blog.
Friday 16 June 2023
Live music: Don’t Stop Believing – the End of the Night Anthems show
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
The End-of-Night Anthems Show
Jump aboard the midnight train – heaven is a place on Earth called Bedford as the greatest end-of-the-night anthems spectacular roars into town.
Non-stop, singalong favourites – Summer of ’69, I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, Eye of the Tiger, Livin’ on a Prayer, Sweet Child O’ Mine, China in Your Hand – 30 anthems brought to life by a sizzling cast, fantastic costumes and amazing light show.
Friday 16 June 2023
Live music: Megapint
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm.
Free entry
Megapint head to The Cellar Bar for their debut performance.
Covering Everything from Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers to David Bowie and The Beatles, featuring versions of well-loved classics from contemporary rock to new wave grunge.
Saturday 17 June 2023
Family crafts: Dad you rock! Father’s Day pebble painting workshop
Harpur Centre
Free event
Create a truly unique gift for Father’s Day at the Harpur Centre Kid’s Club’s pebble painting workshop.
Harpur – the mascot – will be hosting the ‘Dad You Rock’ event which will give children the chance to put their creativity to the test and design bespoke handmade gifts to take home for Dad this Father’s Day. Harpur will also be giving away balloons and posing with shoppers for selfies. If you’re not already signed up to the Kid’s Club, you can sign up on the day or head to the Centre’s website beforehand and sign up.
Saturday 17 June 2023
Exhibition: Teasing Out Contingencies
The Higgins Bedford until January 2024
Free entry
Bedford artist Quilla Constance (also known as QC) will showcase eight new large-scale oil paintings and a costume installation at The Higgins Bedford, Sir William Harpur Gallery for her solo exhibition Teasing Out Contingencies, opening on 17 June and running until 7 January 2024.
As British society becomes increasingly polarised, this exhibition seeks to cross social borders, confront stereotyping, and challenge gender, racial and class inequalities. QC states “Teasing Out Contingencies seeks to create exciting new narratives to explore: what is British society now and where are we going?” – These are timely questions as we emerge from the Covid 19 pandemic, and as we re-examine our relationship with the British monarchy in the wake of the Queen’s passing and the Coronation of King Charles III.
Saturday 17 June 2023
Live music: Unisong Bromham Summer Concert
St Owen’s Church, Bromham, 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 (under 12s £5)
Unisong’s 10th-anniversary charity concert – an evening of songs themed around night and day.
Ticket price includes wine and refreshments. All in aid of the Bedford Foodbank.
Saturday 17 June 2023
Walk: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Lidlington Railway Station MK43 0XP @ 1.30pm
Six mile walk. Muddy if wet, steep slope at start.
Saturday 17 June 2023
Live music: Fire Fall
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £8
Fire Fall return to Bedford Esquires for a night of headbanging, moshing & heavy metal music. After a successful EP Launch earlier this year to a nearly sold-out crowd this is a show not to be missed.
Saturday 17 June 2023
Live music: Five Five Six
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
We’re excited to welcome back Five Five Six to the Cellar Bar, get ready for a great night of legendary rock tunes! The Cellar Bar literally rocks when these guys play!
Saturday 17 June 2023
Live music: A Tribute to The Carpenters
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £28
Time to get over that rainbow and make the smallest of dreams come true. A brand-new showvfeaturing Gordy Marshall’s British Carpenters and starring Sally Creedon plus musicians from London’s West End.
Features stone-cold Carpenters classics including Close to You, Top of the World, Rainy Days and Mondays, Please Mr Postman, Goodbye to Love and many more.
Saturday 17 June 2023
Dance music: Mr C
Herd, St Cuthbert’s Street @ 8pm
Tickets: £10/£15
Mr C aka Richard West is probably best known for MCing with The Shamen on their singles Move Any Mountain, Phorever People and the verrry naughty no.1 single Ebeneezer Goode where he channelled a Victorian Cockney raver (who hasn’t? – Ed).
Read: Interview: Mr C chats music, food and The End
But he’s also run very successful clubs in London as well as running various labels including Superfreq, recording, mixing and performing live. After relocating to Los Angeles he has recently moved back to London.
Bedford’s own Herd has the pleasure of hosting Mr C on Saturday, 17 June. Expect House, Acid and Techno with a twist.
Saturday 17 June 2023
Live music: The Dekkertones + Dr Ska
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12
The Dekkertones return to Esquires for a high summer show following their annual Christmas sell-out gig in 2022.
The DekkerTones are a nine-piece ska/reggae/rocksteady/2tone covers band playing authentic ska and reggae from the late 60’s Trojan and Bluebeat scene right through to the 2tone era.
Packing out venues around the region this mighty warhorse of Ska and Reggae plays a set of over two hours getting the party started in the room every time.
Secure your skanking spot now!
Sunday 18 June 2023
Walking: “The Rise and Fall of Bedford Castle” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the gold postbox in St Paul’s Square
Tickets: £3/£1.50
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of our walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £3.00 per adult or £1.50 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday 18 June 2023
Father’s Day: Jazz Brunch
3 St Peter’s Bedford @ 11am
Tickets: £2.50 plus cost of food & drink ** Available to non-members. **
Order from 3 St Peter’s delicious brunch menu and make a relaxing start to your Father’s Day listening to beautiful Jazz sung by Natalie Adusei in a relaxed and refined location.
Sunday 18 June 2023
Theatre: Twitchers
The Place Theatre @ 2pm
Tickets: from £13
Springwatch is coming to RSPB Shrikewing nature reserve. Jess, the Reserve Warden, can’t wait to show the world this special place, with its amazing wildlife and incredible birds, but Shrikewing is not an island.
From pollution and vandals to an overzealous mayor, Jess is starting to feel that protecting birds from human interference might just be impossible. As we meet raucous rooks, booming bitterns and plenty of tits we realise the birds of Shrikewing are its real stars.
Can Jess take inspiration from the RSPB’s tenacious female founders and draw on its history of campaigning to save them? Can she find her own voice to raise a rallying cry for nature? Nest(le) down with Mikron in this flight through birdwatching history, feathered with
birdsong and laughter. You’ll be giggling from heron in and you won’t ‘egret coming!
Sunday 18 June 2023
Family fun: Pop Princesses
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 3pm
Tickets: £18
This is the children’s pop concert with a big difference. A musical spectacular starring four fabulous fairy tale princesses who just love to sing! It’s the perfect mix.
Featuring a soundtrack of top pop hits from artists such as Little Mix, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, and internet sensation, JoJo Siwa, plus songs from all your favourite Films and Musicals.
Come and join the fun!
Sunday 18 June 2023
Live music: The Flamin’ Wet Gurus play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Come to Bedford Esquires for an afternoon of live music from Flamin’ Wet Gurus, who are returning to the bar for a summer set of originals and covers.
Reggae, drum n bass, folk and funk. Brass, percussion and harmonies. What more could you ask for?
Tuesday 20 June 2023
Live music: Tuesday lunchtime concert
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
With a performance from Bedford Choral Society Chamber Choir.
Wednesday 21 – Monday 26 June 2023
Culture: Events to mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush
Free to attend
Throughout the week, the Legacy of Windrush Descendents (LOWD) organisation will be hosting free events to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of Empire Windrush and to celebrate the impact on the culture of Bedford.
From a service at All Saints Church to a weekend of concerts, entertainment and food, you can find out more here.
Wednesday 21 June 2023
Karaoke and Drag Bingo: Fanny Burns (Drag Queen)
The Cellar Bar @ 8.00pm
Free entry
She’s back and ready to entertain! Fanny Burns is back in Bedford in her new home at The Cellar Bar,
She will be hosting a night of Karaoke with a twist and of course Prize Bingo. This show contains adult humour and swearing and is strictly an over 18’s event
Wednesday 21 May 2023
Film: Cinema @ 3 St Peter’s presents – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
3 St Peter’s Street @ 7pm
Tickets: £12/£10.50/£9/£6
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful martial arts films ever made, winning numerous awards and accolades including four Academy Awards.
It also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film and the BAFTA Award for Best Film not in the English Language. In addition, it won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and received two Grammy Award nominations.
Thursday 22 June 2023
Live music: The Sherlocks
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Selling out venues up and down the UK, The Sherlocks head to Bedford.
Friday 23 June 2023
Bedford Park Concerts: The Jacksons / Sister Sledge / The Real Thing / DJ Spoony
Bedford Park
Tickets: £24.75
Soul pop icons The Jacksons, ultimate disco divas Sister Sledge and British soul pioneers The Real Thing are ready for the ultimate party night in Bedford Park. All three legendary groups will join forces for an incredible show on Friday June 23.
It will be another sensational night in the magnificent grounds of Bedford Park, which is set for its biggest ever summer of live music.
Friday 23 June 2023
Live music: The Retroes
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Proper old school rock (with a few modern covers thrown in) is what you can expect from this epic four-piece rock band.
Friday 23 June 2023
Live music: James (Starsailor) + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Frontman of multi-million-selling band Starsailor, James Walsh has proven his worth as a singer-songwriter in his own right. He’s written songs with Eliza Doolittle, Melanie C, Suzanne Vega, and Professor Green – to name a few, as well as writing movie soundtracks.
Starsailor’s initial run of success saw both their ‘Love is Here’ debut album and the 2003 follow-up ‘Silence is Easy’ hit #2 on the UK charts as they raced to a total of three million sales. The band also enjoyed more than their fair share of prestigious gigs, supporting the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Police, The Killers, and U2.
This return was swiftly followed by the release of their biggest hits through ‘Good Souls: The Greatest Hits’ which included two brand new tracks ‘Give Up the Ghost’ and ‘Hold On’ [September 2015, on Parlophone]. James along with his band, Starsailor, released their latest studio album ‘All This Life’ in September 2017, which charted at #23 in the UK album charts. In total Starsailor have charted with 11 top 50 singles, including the top 10 numbers ‘Alcoholic’ and ‘Silence Is Easy’.
James released his debut solo album ‘Turning Point’ back in 2014. Turning Point was very much a coming-of-age album, full of wonderful examples of James’s ability to weave inspiring melodies around simple chords, creating timeless and classic songs. His latest album was released early in 2023, and is entitled ‘Coming Good’.
Saturday 24 June 2023
Comedy: Jokes and Laffs – June Comedy Night
The Place Theatre @ 7pm
Tickets: £14.99
An evening filled with laughter and more. Showcasing the very best of established and new comedy talents – both homegrown and international, while also making sure to cater for all comedy lovers of all ages and backgrounds.
Performing on the night are President Obonjo (compere) Shabbz, A.D.E. & MR BLAIR. There is a bar, music and catering from Dudu Bar Lounge on the night.
Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 June 2023
Festival: Bedford Kite and Motoring Festival
Russell Park, the Embankment, Mill Meadows and on the River Great Ouse @ 10am – 4pm
Free
The Bedford Kite and Motoring Festival will be returning for its biggest event this June, with activities taking place in Russell Park, the Embankment, Mill Meadows and on the River Great Ouse.
The free event has grown to become a highlight of the summer festival calendar, and this year the town’s first Dragon Boat Festival will be an added attraction on Sunday.
The weather forecast is looking good, so pack a picnic, gather your friends and family and head to Russell Park!
Saturday 24 June 2023
Live music: Zeroes
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
Zeroes hail from Hitchin and play a heady mix of the best 00s Indie tunes (think Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon, The Strokes, The Kooks, Kaiser Chiefs, The Wombats) as well as a smattering of 90s classics (Pulp, Blur, James) and a few timeless gems (Smiths, Joy Division). Not to be missed!
Saturday 24 June 2023
Bedford Park Concerts: Sing / Dagny / Joe Sumner
Bedford Park
Tickets: from £61.85
Sting’s ‘My Songs’ concerts are an exuberant and dynamic show featuring his most beloved songs, written throughout the 17-time Grammy Award winner’s illustrious career both with The Police and as a solo artist.
Following a sold-out six-night residency at the London Palladium, My Songs was hailed “a masterclass” by The Times which said, “Sting remains an undeniably skilled performer with a gold-plated back catalogue.”
A musical journey taking in hits like Fields of Gold, Shape of my Heart, Roxanne and Demolition Man, the concert was described as “a rare treat” by The Telegraph and saw Sting praised as “near peerless” by The Guardian with “sublime pop alchemy”. Fans can also expect to hear Englishman In New York, Every Breath You Take, Roxanne, Message In A Bottle and many more.
Saturday 24 June 2023
Live music: Sex Pistols Exposé
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12
The Sex Pistols Exposé quartet are by all accounts the world’s No.1 tribute to the infamous punk rock legends that included Rotten, Vicious, Cook and Jones, and apparently, they have even been approved by all surviving members of the Sex Pistols.
This certainly brings a high expectancy with such an accolade, but wherever they perform, it conjures up those heady days of punk rock which saw Vicious officially join ‘The Pistols’ back on 28th February 1977.
The Sex Pistols Exposé faithfully recreate the sound of the timeless tracks found ‘Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols’ (and beyond) which was originally recorded from October 1976 until August 1977 and was unleashed to the world on 28th October 1977.
The Sex Pistols Exposé will be belting out classics like ‘Pretty Vacant’, ‘God Save The Queen’, ‘Holidays In The Sun’ and ‘Anarchy In The UK’ and others, as well as a plethora of witty stage banter.
Sunday 25 June 2023
Walking: “The Silent Faces of Bedford” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the gold postbox in St Paul’s Square
Tickets: £3/£1.50
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of our walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £3.00 per adult or £1.50 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday 25 June 2023
Live Music: Soul On Sunday
The Cellar Bar @ 3.00pm.
Free Entry
Head to the Cellar Bar for an afternoon of Soul and Motown classics with DJ Shazza at the helm. Playing only vinyl records this is as authentic as it gets. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon! The wheels of steel will be spinning from 3pm until 7pm, free entry.
Sunday 25 June 2023
Live music: Quake + Moniker play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
The Sunday Afternoon Session features a double-header from Quake and Moniker.
Sunday 25 June 2023
Bedford Park Concerts: West End Proms
Bedford Park
Tickets: from £28.60
The complete all-star line-up, who will now join Danny Mac (Pretty Woman & Wicked) on stage are confirmed as John Owen-Jones (Phantom of the Opera & Les Misérables), Faye Tozer (Steps & Everybody’s Talking About Jamie), Zoe Birkett (The Bodyguard & Moulin Rouge), Trevor Dion Nicholas (Aladdin & Hamilton), Louise Dearman (Wicked & Evita) and Georgi Mottram (International & West End Classical Singer).
West End Proms will present a breathtaking evening of live music from the past seven decades of popular musical theatre. This immaculately performed and vividly compelling show will include songs from Les Misérables, Phantom Of The Opera, Moulin Rouge, The Greatest Showman, Chicago, Wicked, Sunset Boulevard, and many more.
Bedford Park Concerts ‘Proms’ has been Bedfordshire’s most prestigious al fresco Proms event for over 20 years. This year the production of the West End Proms will be by Olivier Award-nominated producers Lambert Jackson, arguably one of the most exciting theatrical production companies in the UK at the present time combined with Olivier Award-winning promoters Cuffe and Taylor, get set for one of the best theatrical experiences Bedford has ever seen.
The soloists will be accompanied by the Novello Orchestra, which has quickly become renowned for its passionate, enigmatic performances and charisma that have injected an energy and innovative take on the whole orchestral concept. Expect passionate playing and breathtaking orchestrations.
The Bedford Park Concert West End Proms will have one of the best laser shows in the country and a firework spectacular to finish the evening. The West End Proms will not only bring you some of the top West End Musical hits but will also be delivering all the much-loved pomp and patriotism, flag-waving favourites Rule Britannia, I Vow to Thee my Country, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory (just to name a few!)
Don’t forget the Proms is a picnic concert so you can bring along your chairs, picnic blankets and your own food & drink to enjoy throughout the show.
Every Thursday
Cocktails, Quiz Night & Karaoke
The Cellar Bar from 5.00pm
Pit your wits against The Cellar Bar’s resident quizmaster to see if you can win the jackpot every Thursday from 8pm. £2 per person entry and a maximum of six per team. The winning team will win the jackpot PLUS a round of shots. Followed by Karaoke til close.
Every Saturday
Food & drink: Cocktail mixology masterclass
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm / doors open at 12 noon
£30 per person
The Cellar Bar’s resident mixologist, Marley, will explain how to create some outstanding cocktails for your tasting enjoyment. Then, it’s your turn to put what you’ve learned into practice by making (and drinking) three cocktails!
Every Sunday
Live Music: Open Mic Night
The Cellar Bar @ 7.30pm
Free Entry
Every Sunday, join Mat Roberts for the Cellar Bar’s weekly Open Mic night. An opportunity for new and experienced performers to get up on stage and perform.
So whether you think you are the next Tom Grennan or just want a good night of entertainment, head the to Cellar Bar from 7.30pm.
Until 2024
Exhibition: We Are Ten
The Higgins Bedford, Castle Lane
Free entry
The Higgins begins its 10th birthday celebrations with an exhibition featuring old favourites and rarely seen works from the collection, all chosen by organisations, groups and individuals who have worked with the museum and gallery over the last decade.
The exhibition runs for the next year, with special events planned next month to mark the exact date the museum reopened in 2013. Watch this space for more information.
Until 2024
Exhibition: Edward Bawden – Planes, Trains and Automobiles
The Higgins Bedford @ Tues – Sat: 11am – 5pm/Sun: 2pm – 5pm/Closed Mondays
Free entry
Let Edward Bawden transport you in this exhibition celebrating all things travel.
Drawn exclusively from the Higgins Bedford’s Edward Bawden archive, see large linocuts of London’s iconic stations and an array of wonderful vehicles from hot air balloons to jumbo jets and tall ships to cruise liners.
Read: New Edward Bawden ‘trains, planes and automobiles’ exhibition to open this weekend
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
